'We’re resilient and we’re adapting’: New Kent gymnastics center overcomes obstacles with community’s help
For more than a decade, New Kent-based Virginia Elite Gymnastics Academy has withstood hardships. It is common to experience hiccups as a business but owner Carissa Baldwin said they’ve always overcome; in part because of her and her team’s ability to adapt.
Since its fruition, the academy has welcomed athletes of all ages from within the county and across the state. Constantly adjusting to the times and buying new equipment, Baldwin said the academy’s reputation has grown.
It was growth that led to Baldwin’s decision to expand. Looking to build a state-of-the-art facility with the newest equipment, Baldwin set her sights on a new facility located right off of the interstate; a project that would take nearly two years to complete.
Then, the pandemic hit. Despite having to shut her doors for nearly three months, Baldwin said it was nothing she and her team couldn’t handle. With time to plan, she began looking toward the future and rethinking the role the center might play when it reopened all while getting the new 17,500 square-foot building ready.
But, the hardships didn’t stop there. While Baldwin had prepared for almost everything, she then came Tropical Storm Isaias.
“We were in the process of moving equipment from the old building to the new building,” Baldwin said. “When the storm hit, a lot of stormwater drained into our building and flooded the gym and we just couldn’t keep up.”
With the new facility’s grand opening five days away, Baldwin said she feared they would have to delay the event. So she reached out for help and the community responded.
With the help of volunteers, county and state residents and county officials, Baldwin was able to raise more than $10,000, clean up the former facility and salvage equipment all in time for the Sept. 8 grand opening.
For the next few days, it was all hands on deck. It was a team effort with some unexpected helpers.
Baldwin said county officials have been forthcoming and helpful throughout the process.
“It is extremely important to New Kent County that we serve as a resource to our business community, and create and maintain an environment where businesses are most likely to succeed and prosper,” County Administrator Rodney Hathaway said in an email.
With the support of the community behind her, Baldwin said she’s working to give back any way she can.
“For a small community to raise that much is impressive and heartwarming,” Baldwin said. “For people to give up their time, money and energy to help us through hard times is truly incredible and we want to offer the same support and give back any way we can."
With a new facility, a full staff and the room to do it, the Virginia Elite Gymnastic Academy transformed to better accommodate current pandemic conditions. Rooms that were once used for dance classes have been turned into classrooms. The main gym serves as a way for kids to get their exercise.
About 30 kids are at the center each week. Each one is signed up through the center’s virtual learning program in which kids spend the day attending classes and getting help from the staff. Once the school day is over, they get a chance to play.
With staff onsite to monitor and conduct exercise-based classes, the students have the opportunity to participate in gym activities which Baldwin said is crucial.
“The kids are adjusting to virtual learning and sometimes, it’s hard for them to sit still for that long,” Baldwin said. “So, at least here, they have the opportunity to get up and move around and kind of, burn off all of that energy.”
By offering the use of the facility as a virtual learning center, the academy is helping parents who do not have access to the internet at home or day care, underlying issues for many families' in the region.
While the center is continuing to hold regular gymnastic-based classes, the focus now is helping families. As the pandemic continues, Baldwin said she plans to continue offering new services and giving back any way she can.
“We’re learning to be flexible and to quickly roll with anything that comes at us next,” Baldwin said. “We’re resilient and we’re adapting to changes everyday.”
For more information, visit .thevegagym.com.
Emily Holter, emily.holter@virginiamedia.com, 757-256-6657, @EmilyHolterNews.
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